And evil spirit, yet his aid
He oft affords to those who’ve paid
Him adulation; many a wight
Gains his goodwill who knows aright
To trim his tongue. Experience proves,
That patience oft his hard heart moves.”
The Lover.
Renewed hope
Rejoiced I greatly, seeing thus
My friend’s kind heart solicitous3360
E’en as mine own, for my content.
I bade adieu to him, and went,
With hurried steps, yet once again
Anigh the hedge, for all heart-fain
Was I once more the Rose to see,
Nought else afforded joy to me.
On all my movements Danger kept
A watch, that never flagged nor slept;
But truth to tell small lust had I
To risk his dread ferocity,3370
And all my thought was how to bate
His dudgeon, and conciliate
His fierceness, but at last despair
Woke in my breast. I did not dare,
Though groaning ’neath the long delay,
Ere yet his wrath might melt away,
To pass the hedge where grew the Rose,
But as I stood beside the close,
The wretch could hear my piteous sighs,
Yet heeded nought, though in such wise3380
He saw me as must plainly tell
That Love’s thrall bowed my soul to hell.
